My name is Tara Douglas, and I am the Spanish teacher at J.A. Coles Elementary School. I teach all of the students in second through fourth grade at Coles. This is my ninth year teaching in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood school district, and my seventh year at Coles. I am a graduate of Rutgers University, where I earned my BA in Spanish and a MEd in Education. I have also studied at the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain, which is where I truly feel in love with the Spanish language and culture.
I grew up right next-door in Westfield, NJ and did not begin studying Spanish until I was in the seventh grade. I inform the children how fortunate they are to be able to begin learning at new language in second grade, and that like me, they do not have to be of Hispanic background to be able to speak and appreciate the language and culture.
I grew up right next-door in Westfield, NJ and did not begin studying Spanish until I was in the seventh grade. I inform the children how fortunate they are to be able to begin learning at new language in second grade, and that like me, they do not have to be of Hispanic background to be able to speak and appreciate the language and culture.